Well, I’m that one other person. But unfortunately I’m a person with no real money to spend on such a project. Iâ€\m just a regular working guy with a modest income. But I would be willing to invest the time if you have a way to get the money.

My personal interest is to own and operate a second run $1 theater like they used to have in the Newgate mall. Only in todayâ€\s market it would be more like $2.50 or $3. The intent would be to play relatively new movies, but movies that have already played at the major venues. Plus offering the standard concessions at more reasonable prices with the overall goal of being able to offer a family a night out at the movies for $20 or so.

I remember waiting for the good shows to come to the $1 theater and I think it would work again today.

Thanks MarkG for the condition update. The building was recently sold and I hear they have plans to raze it for a car lot. (Yes – Riverdale needs more of those!) The county assessor puts the value of the property at only $678,921.00.

I’d still like to see “The Domes” saved. It is a very unique and rare style of theater. I believe there is enough interest that money could be raised (over time) to restore it. There is a Facebook group for sharing memories with over 350 members; I think there are hundreds (thousands?) more in the general public who would contribute to saving it. The first step would be just securing it from being torn down.

A restored theater wouldn’t have to compete with first-run theaters. It could be operated as a non-profit specialty theater hosting Indie movies, film festivals, movie premiers, concerts, etc., as well as first-runs. There are other theaters that are thriving on this model (ie: Egyptian Theater in Boise, Idaho). I’m willing to jump in and get this started. I just need to hear from ONE other person who thinks we should do it! Sadly, I think the public has rolled over on this one – even the original owner’s family hasn’t tried to save it (recently).

I would cost several million dollars just to get the building in shape again to be able re-open it. This was one of those buildings built back when electricity was really cheap and as a result the entire building is 100% electric. That wouldn’t fly today in the world of high electric costs.

I aquired a pair of the 70mm projectors that were still in Cinedome late last year and while in there I went through the place top to bottom. There is still a huge hand painted “Empire Strikes Back” sign up stairs in the air handler room! The 60 foot wide curved screens are still both there and intact. Some of the speakers have been removed or the drivers stripped. All the seats are there as well but they are in rough shape. Much of the copper wire in the building has been striped out by vandals and the roof top air conditioning units have been completely striped by vandals. The building would have to be 100% updated and it would still not make enough money in today’s multiplex oriented world to pay it’s way. Sadly, it is now an extinct dinosaur.

I am a Utah based filmmaker and I have always wanted to not only restore this beautiful building as a theater, but also convert part of it into a production studio for use by local filmmakers, schools, and others. Maybe Spy Hop or some other such group would have interest. I’m just exploring the idea in more detail, but I do know that I’d like a real community-oriented, localized take on it. If anyone has comments, ideas, or interest in this concept, please contact me at

I’m to young to rememeber ever going to this theatre in my life, if I ever did, but my mom saw Star Wars there and I’ve gone by it everyday for as long as I can remember. I hope that someone can finally salvage it and restore it so that us Utah kids that find its solitude so incredibally “romantical” can see it as it was in its glory days. I hope you can get the money together Mr. Porter.

Effort to reopen Cinedome. Architect plans have been developed.
I have been pursuing, this for just a short time, but looks like I’ll be about 200,000 short. If anyone is interested in investing
to help reopen the theater please send me an e-mail and I will provide more details.

..I remember being in the Cinedome back in 1971 to watch John Wayne’s “Big Jake” on that HUGE curved screen – about as big as the Villas in SLC. On the other side was MGM’s “Ryan’s Daughter” in 70mm. NOW, that was an experience to witness-beautiful presentation and excellent 7 channel stereo magnetic sound!! Went up in the booth later on (being a projectionist myself) to witness the massive operation of that massive twin.

What was so intriging was the lobby layout: Center concession stand, organ in the middle of the floor entertaining customers with actual lobby music, massive crystal chandliers hanging in their respective places…just a massive beautiful layout that one can imagine…

It has been sold, yes. This is for certain. What the new owners will do with it is, as of now, unclear. I would think it will be a theater again as they keep putting movie quotes on the marquee. I am told they don’t plan to do anything with it for “a while” though.

So, has the building really been sold? I was actually starting to look into grants for purchasing the building for a gentleman’s club/concert venue. I would love to see it as a theater again, but I think there’s too much competition in the area now for it to succeed.

According to the Dec. 1999 Loews Directory, this theatre is listed as the Cinedome 2. Theatre #1 has 791 seats, and theatre #2 has 738 seats, total of 1529 seats. Both have/had Dolby Stereo and DTS Digital sound. Tickets $6.00/3.50

VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE:
I received news tonight that the Cinedome has been purchased. This news came from a member of the family who owned it previously. The new owners have begun putting movie quotes on the marquee, let’s hope they turn it into the theater it should be soon.

Please never turn the Cinedome into a dinner theater. I don’t mean to dampen your dreams but the Cinedome has always been, and will always be the best place to see films in this state. If you turn the Cinedome into something it’s not, you will be destroying memories and ruining it for future generations. There should be no tables with chairs while people eat and watch a show, that is not what the Cinedome is about.. I would ask that no one with the resources do anything with the Cinedome other than return it to it’s former glory.

MadmNanner, I have been working on a business plan and proposal to convert the Cinedome 70 into a Dinner Theater, I have the Business plan all but done and have the number of the owner, as soon as I have it done, I will be putting the proposal together and presenting it to the owner if they are willing. I have put in about 3 years of research into it, and was actually going to use another location in Davis County, but have gone back to the idea of using the Cinedome. I have run a number of successful start up companies, and have some investors already lined up that will be willing to invest, we need more, but I feel that if the owner is open to the idea, that we have a very good chance of being successful. If you would like more info you may contact me at

What do you guys think about making it a live theatre? I have been talking about it with a few people and it seems like a really great idea and Ogden City area can really use a good live community theatre.